Overhead-trolley system.



No. 663,700. Patented Dec. ll, I900. 0. L.- LEIBY;

OVERHEAD TRULLEY SYSTEM.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1898. Renewed Oct. 18, 1900.) (No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet I.

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N0. 663,700. Patented Dec. 0, I900.

' c. L. LEIBY.

- OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEM.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1898. Renewed Oct. 18, 1900.) (No Model.) 2She0ts-Sheet 2.

Iflllll] llllllllllli j NITED STATES CHARLES L. LEIBY, OF KNOXVILLE,TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LEIBYCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ov'ERHEAo-TRoLLizY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION armin part of Letters Patent No. 663,700, dated iDeoembr11,1906.

Application filed December 5,1898. Renewed October 18, 1900. Serial No.33,513. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. LEIBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overhead-TrolleySystems, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in providing a continuous overhead conductorfor trolley systems which will have no breaks or ofisets or shoulders atthe points of its juncture with the several switches, crossings, andsupports, but will present a continuous smooth surface at these points,resulting in a conductor extending from end to end of the system, ifdesired, without a break, as will be hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part. hereofand on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure1 is a diagrammatic View of the undersideof an overhead-trolley systemmade in accordance with my said invention; Fig. 2, an under side planView of one of the'hangers by which the trolley wire or conductor ishung from the cross-arms of the poles; Fig. 3, an end elevation of thesame; Fig. 4, an end elevation of one of the connections for supportingthe trolley-wires at the curves by means of guys running therefrom topoles or supports at one side; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the same;Fig. 6, an under side plan view of the four-way switch Fig. 7, a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 8, an under side plan view of the two-wayswitch; Fig. 9, a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 10 an under sideview of another two-way switch.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the hanger by which thetrolley-wires are suspended from the poles; B, the connection or hangerjoined to the trolley-wires at intervals in the curves and connected byguywires to suitably-located supports; C, the four-way switch used atcrossings and supported by guy-wires, as is usual; D, a twoway switchused at a point where one line runs off on a curve from a straight lineand supported in the same manner, and E the twoway switch used where acurve runs olf each side of a straight line, supported as the others.

In Fig. 1 the location of each of these parts and their use in thesystem is indicated and will be readily understood by an inspection ofsaid view. In their form they do not differ materially from forms beforeknown, being provided with the necessary flanges, with eyes forconnection with the guywires or other supports, and with the ribs, whichconstitute in this case a continuation of the trolley-wire, arranged sothat the trolley will follow the direction of the car as it moves overthe track beneath. I-Ieretotore, however, said trolley- Wires have beenconnected to said parts by means of apertures, through which they areinserted and joined to suitable devices on the top side thereof or passover the top thereof.

In my present system each of these several supporting parts has shortprojections p cast thereon, being a continuation of the ribs and of aform and size corresponding nearly to that of the trolley wire orconductor 0. To these projections I weld said trolley-wires, at pointsindicated by a dotted line Z, across the conductor at each joint, thejoint thus made being smooth, and thus providing a smooth surface forthe trolley to run upon.

In the case of the supports B the projec tions 19 can be curved to givethe conductor the curve desired and a much more regular curvaturesecured than by the usual devices for supporting the wires at suchpoints.

As is well known, copper wire is usually used for trolley-conductors,and I also cast the supports A, B, C, D, and E from copper. To rendersaid copper parts weldable, I subject them to a treatment which consistsin placing them in a vessel with a quantity of a compound containingpotassium nitrate and a cyanid in the proportion of about one pound ofthe potassium nitrate to ten grains of the 0 cyanid and heating saidvessel until said compound becomes fused and allowing the copper tostand in the bath until the desired chemical action has taken place,usually two or three hours, or the copper may be treated 5 in a moltenstate by throwing therein aproper qnantity'of the compound in properproportions and then cast and rolled to the forms desired. Copper sotreated can be welded by the usual method.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An overhead system of trolley-conductors consisting of the usualtrolley-wires and nietal supports, said metal support-s being formedwith points to which said wires may be welded, and said Wires havingtheir ends weldedthereto, whereby a smooth joint and a continuousconductor are secured, substantially as set forth.

2. A trolley system of conductors, compris-

